TS Editor Shubhra Krishan met the lovely, lively Laurie Trognon in Paris. She jotted down a beautiful ode to her home city, spilling lots of local secrets along the way! Over to her :
I am 23 and have lived in Paris all my life. I live in the 17th arondissement in a quiet residential neighbourhood called Villiers, which is sprinkled with parks and French brasseries.
Every morning, I wake up in my apartment and feel lucky to live in Paris. I open the window and look out to a beautiful old Haussmannian building. In the early hours, we can hear birds, wind, or rain.
Like any other big city, Paris gives you the feeling of being on your own—in a nice way! I start my day with a typical Parisian breakfast of croissants or a chocolate roll with fresh orange juice or tea. Sometimes, I keep it simple with just bread and butter.
Parisian women are known to be very fashion-conscious and enjoy sporting avant-garde fashion. I revel a bit in dressing up; colourful long dresses are my go-to for summer.
I enjoy going out with my friends in the evenings. My favourite hangouts in the city would be:
Best pizza: Paparazzi restaurant
For the best cup of coffee: KB Coffee Roasters
Best bar: O Chateau (Wine bar)
Best bakery: Ladurée
Some of the restaurants, pubs and bars that the people of Paris love, and you won’t find in most guidebooks are :
– La Félicité
– Le Club des 5
– Candelaria
– Razowski
Paris looks the most beautiful during summertime, when everybody is on vacation. People here are very open-minded, the weather is great and you can enjoy parks, terraces, and swimming pools. You can really appreciate space at Rosa Bonheur, which is a restaurant in the Buttes Chaumont park.
When I am unhappy and need peace, Paris comforts me with wine! I sit with a glass of wine and a friend at Vert Tulipe; it’s affordable, great wine, and perfect for forgetting your woes!
I like playing a sport – particularly Aquabiking. It is very important when you live in a big city… a great way to relax.
When I need a moment of rest, I go to the NUXE Spa and get a manicure.
NUXE Spa
The city’s loveliest street is Rue des Francs Bourgeois, a typical Parisian street with trendy but not-too-expensive shops such as Zadig & Voltaire and Isabel Marant. For bargain shopping, I would recommend the area of Chatelet – Les Halles. For high-end purchases, you should head to Printemps Haussmann or Rue Saint Honoré.
In the evening, Paris looks like an old city which is waking up; all brasseries and terraces are full even in winter. My apartment fills up with the sights and sounds of my neighbours who invite their friends over for cocktails.
One of my favourite cuisines for when I can’t cook is Japanese.
A typical Parisian weekend is never complete without a Sunday morning brunch.
All in all, I love my city because it has a real history. The typical Haussmannian buildings are majestic, and I can’t get enough of admiring them!
Note: Young Laurie would be about 33 now, but we checked, and all the places she mentioned are still thriving!
